Vacuum-producing apparatus.



L. W. SERRELL.

VACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED AUG.1, 1908.

950,495. Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

L. W. SERRELL.

VACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1,1908.

950,495. Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L W. SERRELL.

VACUUM PRODUCING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIO?! FILED AIICn 1, 1908 Patented Mar L, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f. C ,1 p3

LEIUEL WILLIAM BEBBELL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

VAOUUM-IBODUOING APPARATUS.

Specification Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application Med August 1, 1908. Serial No. 448,390.

To all whom it may concern:

' ratus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vacuum producing a paratus for cleaning devices, especially t osc adapted for domestic use. A device 0001] iying a small area and portable; one whiri can be run by electricity by a connection with the usual house circuits and one in which the turbine form of construction is employed, the object of my invention being the production of a relatively mexpensive up aratus of high eiliciency and nominal won; t and cost 0 mamtenance.

My invention consists of a flaring or conical hood, inside of which any desired numher of said suction fans may be placed and operated to exhaust or suck the dust laden on through a suitable dust separator made part of said machine and laced between the usual form of dust co ecting devices with flexible hose attachment and the flaring or conical hood in which said fans are operated.

It has been found from tests made using a suction or exhaust fan placed at the smaller opening of a flaring hood or cone and discharging the exhaust air into said cone, that the suction effort is increased by an amount practically equal to the theoretical difference in the velocity of the air with which it leaves the fan and its velocity where it dischar es from the flaring hood into the atmosp iere. To illustrate:-suppose the opening in said cone where the air Ischarges into the atmosphere is four times the area of the fan itsel the suction effort would be increased and would be prncticall y four times renter than were the dischal' c made into t' e atmosphere direct wilboutthe use of the flaring-wade.

, fun and the next fun on the shaft.

The speed of moving air is measured by l its so called velocity head and in order to produce the rentcst amount of suction, the velocity of tie movin air u'msl' not funded, except by gru ually expandin air in such a. way that as the vclocitylncnd decreases the static head likewise decreases, preserving the established vacuum; thus a lllillli ull u bend in a pipe will reduce the ve oclty cad as will also a sudden discharge be rothe from a small ie into a large pipe, but if a cone is placed etween the smal pipe and the lat e pipe, the air will expand gradually an its forward velocity will diminish inversely as the area of the cone or pipe increases and the static head is decreased in the same pro ortion, thus preservin the vacuum alrea y established. In the esign of this apparatus all pipe bends are made of large radius and flarin cones are laced between all pipes or vcsselis havin di erent diameters, so that the velocity eads and static heads may not be mechanically interfered with and the vacuum established may be reserved.

n the carrying out of my invention, I prefer to use two oppositely placed conical code, the smaller ends of which come into proximity in the form of an hour lass with a small central chamber between ihem. In this hour glass or double conical case and upon an axial shaft thereof are placed 0ppositely disposed a series of impellers ot' progressivolly increasing diameters, the revoution of w iich exhausts or sucks the dust laden air through a dust separator, where the dust is arrested and the air passes on to the central chamber between the two conical hoods. A very high velocity is attained by these impellers which are fan-wheels of peculiar form and because of the increasing diameters of said parts toward the delivery end, the air as delivered is expanded, its volume increased and its momentum thereby diminished.

While the machine can be built and operated with one conical hood, I prefer to make use of two, as it makes possible the use of double inlet suction devices or fans balanced against each other, which will take in the same amount of air as a single inlet fan at double the s ecd of suction.

In operation, tic air iuitinllv drawn through the inlet fun, is discharged into the flaring cone in the space between the l'ii lgt e velocity of the air is diminished in proportion to the relative areas of the cone ut. the first and second fans. This air is gathered up by the second fun, which is lm'gerund more powerful than the first fan, and is sent forward into the space between the first and second fans where the third fun, being larger and more powerful than the second fun. sends it again forward. This process can he continued at will until the air is finally discharged through the end of the except that in the series at the right hand cone into the atmosphere.

side of the center Fig. 2, the blades are set In the drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan in the up osite direction to what they are view of my improved portable vacuum set at the aft hand side of the center Fig. :2.

cleaning apparatus. Fi

g. 2 is a longitudinal While I have heroin shown and dcscribcd central section and partial elevation of the 1 a seri f di k l i connection ith same. Fig. 3 is a partial elevation. Fig. 4 IS a part al elevation of one of the fan-wheels. Fig. 5 1s a vertical section at the dotted line a; w, of Pi 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan at t 1e dotto line 3 y, of Fig. 5, and i 7 is a per spective view of one of the b ades of the turbine structure. I

The turbine device consists of a conical skeleton frame in two parts divided along a horizontal plane. These two parts are represented at a b with inte ral central frame parts a b and frame on s a (2 the frame ends havin foot pieces shown in fig. 3 providing or the support of the case, inside of which are the sheet metal cones c (I set in opposition fitting snugly within the frames with the smaller ends coining against the central frame arts a b. The conical skeleton frames divided along a horizontal line are securely connected by bolts 2 3 and the internal sheet metal cones may be held frictionally in position or may be otherwise socured in any desired manner.

Centrally in the frame ends a b are bearings e 6 preferably supported by radial support arms which however, are not shown except generally in Fig. 2. A shaft j in these bearings e 0 passes centrally and axially throu h the hour glass structure or double conicdl frame men! ers, and on one end of this shaft is a motor f of suitable character directly connected to the shaft for revolving the same and the parts carried thereby. This motor may be electrically connected to the regular light service of a private dwellin for its operation. Upon this shaft f an at spaced apart intervals are hubs g and it in series at each side of the center and disks h are formed with these hubs, and I provide rims g It, shown in scries at each side of the center and bctwcon the res ective disks and rims are fixed and seen the turbine blades 1', details of which are particularly shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. Each of those turbmc blades is alike and as shown in Fig. 7, consists of the curved blade a with flanges i at. the opposite edges which are perforated for securing devices such as the screws 4, one ilango being connected to the rim of the disk forming part of one of said hubs and the other flame to an outside rimthe blades solviu I to connect the rims wit) tho disks so that. each built. up structure com misses a hub, with its disk and rim, curved ihulcs and an outside rim and constitutes one of tho turbine devices. These turbine devices arc all alike but of progressively increasing size,

central cross Section and l these turbine devices or im ellers. I do not limit m self to the precise etails of the impellcr evices so long as the same and the lnclosing case are of conoidal form or grad nall increasing diameters.

'1 is upper portion of the central frame a is ma e flat, and resting thereon and sccured thereto as will appear particularly from Figs. 2 and 3, is a frame It: placed transversel in its line of direction of the axis of t e hour glass structure. This frame is provided with an open center and with ring ends k k which are flanged in cross section as will appear particularly from F ig. 3. These ring ends have projections at opposite sides provided with notches 5.

I provide two receptacles or vessels l it. These vessels are formed with beaded n per edges 6 which are. of a diameter to c snugly-received into the lower flange of the rear-ends k k and therein t9 set against packing rings, and these vessels l n at opposite sides are provided with clamping means 7 8 each of which consists of ln s secured to the outer surface of the vesse a screw stem pivoted in the lugs and a not on the screw stem, and the screw stems are received in the notches 5 and the nuts are employed to apply tension in securing the vessels to the ring-ends and providing air ti 'ht connections with the same by means of said intervening packing rings. The vessel Z is a dry gravity dust separator. It is provided with an inlet pipe or to receive the dust Ladened air to which inlet pipe m a hose of usual construction is to be secured at the couplin and m, see Fig. 1; said hose at its free on having connected to it any one of the usual appliances employed for vacuum cleaning PUI.)O.-A!S. These vessels 1 n are each PIOVld with conical hoods I u whose bases are securely fastened to the upper flanges of the ring-ends k k; said conical hoods being connected by an arched pipe 0. In the conical hood I I provide a diuphrngm 9 suitably secured in plaunud profcrahl secured hctwoou rings or nuuuli 'l'ustenet to the inner surface of the larger cud of the hood. This diuphrn on is preforuhly of fabric through which the air may passand of such a mosh as to prcvcnt the dust passing through it. 'lhc \ossol n is ltllvlllh tu xcously [)I'OVlllt'll will: u pcrforutcd mclnl diaphragm of in tho lowor portion, and I prefer to till lllis vessel n with cxcolsuuwhich is preferably moisloucd with wntor mml. The lower and ol the rossol u IH providcd with n trulllrul hood 1' from tho small llaiamnea er or Infthcioperation ti-19mm, antl -the upper jpredi and as-sea; nto the route r of f the flair. ofrep the of said vcsschas the some"; dra w n out in the? oporatlon of a -Qd di of F 3 l provenient, the rotationby" the' 1; motor; 7 on "the shaft f and the llil'bllle dances to the conical hour glass struct'urejcreatea afvacu or less extent at the con-- cxtending'fth'eflrefrom to the vacuum clean- .in tleviccs. This vacuum oauscsthe dust in engalr toibo drstwnthrough the cleaning )a ssing through of t to dust settles the air 0;, hoo atantogthegvessel a. Tlns movementfof the an creates a vacuum m the tube :8' drawing up a minute quantity of 'oharging the same the filling material. The air from of all 'dust passcs "through this dtaphragm,

through the hood r and pipe -r into the center chamber of the hour glass vacuum producing structure and said air is delivered in opposite dirwztlons through the larger ends of the said hour glass strurturu into the atmosphere, passing: llI'r-l through the smaller of tho fan devices, then oxpanding into the iuoreasod arc-a. then passmg through thc second of the fan devices and, rxpauding into the igroatcr urea and then pasailurtlu'ouuh tho arger of said doill oxmuuling mlo tho llltil'tPtlStll vi (:05 and *lhis proa-i-ssira cxpanaitm at: tho os' boti its velocity anal static tivot ngiolich pair of aurtinu tam-s.

c aalngatho vluanun lprmlucml.

gthu volocny mu alra;i itul' bring delircriul into the atomsl era :1 omino pips-r xtends. to the tion of thcoentral n me part (1 will appeal-from Fig. 2, s cen-' t'raltymou ractotlftoi-cceiifc the opposite and encentiral 'ioiftion'jof xthe fraunc iornumlmr of blades employed therewith.

o place i a vessel or bottlc a .fo'r

end Of the @pipe ,ta-

, vessel l, inlet pipe at and the more essury to pressure 5 at \vhich the air is finally delivered into the 7 atmosphere.

The speed at which the fan devices are run is the measure of the vacuum prodncedin the apparatus to a great extent.

1110 not limltmyself to the style or form or totho number of fan devices employed alone or in series at opposite sides of the center, 1101' to the relative size of the hour Lglass construction.

The vessels 1 and n as shown and heroinbeforc described, are connected to and supm thiseonnection an tight. joints are formed with: the, packings that; Intervene, consequently these vessels are both removable and it is essential that they should be removable for the reason that the vessel 1 receives and holds almost all the dust that is collected and consequently requires that the collected dust should he occasionally removed and the vessel cleansech The moistened excelsior or other material in the vessel n also requires to'be occasionally replenished so as to most effectuallyv "'erform the functions thereof, and to facilitate the removal of the vessel a, I prefer to employ a piece of rubber hose dotted from the transverse frame is. and

rot-"um i. r as the same )rovidcs tho P flexibility necessary. It will hardly be neomakethe hoods I a and'the pipe :"relnovable because the smaller areas there of are kept cleansed by the rapid motion therethrough of the air.

I prefer to make the curved blades 1' and their'integral flanges i of alumimun or similar tough light weight metal, for there by the weight of the revolublo member is lessened and in lessening tho weight the power required to operate it is of course 10:. decreased, and I may construct the entire machine or any part or parts thereof of aluminum or light weight metal as desired and I also to. advantage may place. the machine and its motor on a wheeled platform so that it may readily be moved about.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vacuum producing apparatus comprisiug s accd impellers of gradually increasing lame-tors. a case also of gradually Increasing diameter extending around the impellers, and a suction inlet at the smallnart of the ease through which air is drawn into the case and expands toward and i delivered from the larger end of the case.

2. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising spaced inuwllers of gradually increasing diameters. a (also tin-rotor at incl'uusinp: diameter and upon to the atmosphoro at the delivery and largest. and, and a suc- 126 tion inlet at tho opposua and snuillost end of tho case.

3. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising spat-ml ilupellcm in iwt'lt'u of progressively increasingdiameters, a conical mum 130 adapted to extend around the series of im \vhich the air is drawn toward the respecpellers and also of rogressmaly increasing the larger and delivery ends of the case diameters, an inlet or air into the case at the smaller end and the air moving through the case towar the larger end from vhich it is expelled and expanded in transit be tween each of the series of spaced impellers.

4. In a vacuum producing apparatus, a case of gradually increasing diameter transversely of the axis, 0 on to the atmosphere at one end, and an inc osed inlet for air into the case at the other and smaller end, a series of spaced impellers of radually Increasin diameters surrounded y the case, a shaft t lerefor laced axially of the case and the impelling evices of the impellers u on the faces thereof toward the smaller on of the case so as to draw the air from the smaller end and force it along toward the lax-er and delivery end of the case to be expanded in transit.

5. A vacuum producing apparatus comprising s aced impellers of gradually increasing iameters, an inclosmg case therefor agreeing in diameter with said spaced impellers eonti uous to their peripheries and of increasing diameter on the delivery side of each impeller and into which the air as delivered expands, and a suction inlet at the smaller part of the case through which air is drawn into the case and is regressively expanded and delivered row the larger end.

6. A vacuum product]? apparatus comprisin two oppositely isposed series of nice impellers of progressively increasing iameters for effecting the vacuum, conical inclosin cases therefor also set in opposition witi the smaller ends adjacent, said case being also of gradually increasing diameters extending around the impellers, and a suction inlet between the series of impellers at the smaller part of the case through expanding in transit.

7. In a vacuum producing apparatus, the combination with a double conical or hourglass case, a suction inlet in the center and smaller part of the case through which air is drawn into the case, a shaft passing axially through the hourlass case, series of spaced impellers of gra ually increasing diameters mounted on said shaft in said case and means for revolvin the same.

8. In a vacuum pro ucing apparatus, a conical skeleton frame structure divided centrally along a horizontal line, internal sheet metal cones within said skeleton frame a central shaft passing axiall through said structure, spaced impellers o graduall increasing diameters mounted upon said s tuft, and means for actuatin the same, and a suction inlet at the small or part of the case throu h which air is drawn Into the case.

9. n a vacuum producing apparatus, a revoluble vacuum producer, consisting of s aced revolnble devices in series, each rev- 0 uble device consistin of an imperforate center and eriphcral impellers, the revoluble devices ein of gradually increasing diameters a shalt on which the same are mounted, a case also of gradually increasing diameter extendin around the revoluble devices, a suction in ct at the smaller end of the case throu 'h which air is drawn into the case and IS directed through the case and delivered from the larger end, the air in transit expanding between the respective revolublc devices.

Signed by me this 23d day of July 1908.

LEMUEL WILLIAM SERRELL.

\Vitnesses G20. T. Pmcnxnr, BERTHA M. ALLEN. 

